Who Leads The NBA In Turnovers All Time?

We all know that turnovers can be a killer in the NBA. But which players have been the biggest culprits when it comes to coughing up the ball?

Find out who leads the NBA in turnovers all time, and see if any of your favorite players make the list. You might be surprised!

NBA Turnover Leaders

There have been many great NBA players who have racked up a lot of turnovers throughout their career. Some of the all-time leaders in turnovers are Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. However, there is one player who leads them all in turnovers.

All Time Turnover Leaders

Today, we’re going to be looking at the all time NBA turnover leaders. This is a list of the top 50 NBA players who have turned the ball over the most in their careers.

The turnover leader is currently Lakers superstar LeBron James, who has turned the ball over 4,496 times in his illustrious career. James is followed by Michael Jordan (4,252), Kobe Bryant (3,674), Karl Malone (3,564), and Wilt Chamberlain (3,501).

It’s worth noting that turnovers have only been tracked since 1977, so some of the game’s all-time greats (like Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson) don’t appear on this list. Also, players who have spent most of their careers playing point guard tend to have high turnover totals, as they typically handle the ball more than other players on the court.

Here are the top 50 NBA players of all time in terms of career turnovers:

1. LeBron James: 4,496
2. Michael Jordan: 4,252
3. Kobe Bryant: 3,674
4. Karl Malone: 3,564
5. Wilt Chamberlain: 3,501
6. Allen Iverson: 3,371
7. John Stockton: 3,265
8. Jason Kidd: 3254
9. Magic Johnson: 3181
10. Jerry West: 3011
11. Dwyane Wade: 2987

Turnover Leaders by Season

The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) statistical leaders are accorded annually to the player who lead the league in a major statistical category during theRegular Season. The Regular Season runs from late October through early April of the following year.

Turnover Leaders by Season
Season Player Team TO
2018–19 Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 389
2017–18 James Harden Houston Rockets 372
2016–17 Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 346

Causes of Turnovers

There are a number of reasons why players might turnover the ball in basketball. It could be due to a bad pass, losing control of the ball, or being forced to turnover the ball. Whatever the cause, turnovers can be costly for a team.

Bad Passes

Most turnovers are caused by bad passes. This can be due to a number of factors, such as not looking before passing, not using the proper grip, or trying to make a pass that is too difficult. Another cause of turnovers is poor ball-handling skills. This includes dribbling the ball off of your foot, losing control of the ball, or traveling.

There are a few other causes of turnovers that are not related to skill. Turnovers can be caused by poor communication between teammates, making the wrong decision on a play, or simply being outhustled by the other team.

Steals

An important part of basketball is taking care of the ball and not turning it over. Turnovers can be caused by a number of things, including steals, bad passes, and offensive fouls.

Steals are perhaps the most common cause of turnovers. A steal occurs when a defensive player gets the ball from an offensive player who does not have control of the ball. Steals can be caused by a number of things, including poor passes, poor dribbling, and lazy defense.

Bad passes are another common cause of turnovers. A bad pass can be caused by a number of things, including poor decision making, poor passing technique, and poor court vision.

Offensive fouls are another common cause of turnovers. An offensive foul is committed when an offensive player contacts a defensive player who does not have the ball. This can happen when an offensive player is trying to get past a defender or when an offensive player is trying to set a screen (pick) for a teammate.

Ball Handling

One of the main causes of turnovers is poor ball handling. This includes not only fumbling the ball, but also making poor passes that are intercepted or simply not caught by a teammate. Another cause of turnovers is failing to communicate on the court. This can lead to players running into each other, or not being in the right place at the right time.

Prevention of Turnovers

Turnovers are one of the most important aspects of the game of basketball. They can make or break a team. The team that leads the league in turnovers is the team that is least likely to win the championship.

Better Passing

Prevention of turnovers is a stat that has been kept since the 1970-71 NBA season. The leader in thiscategory changes almost every year, with the current leader being Lebron James. In the 2019-2020 season, James averaged 10.6 assists per game and only 3.2 turnovers per game for a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

To have a low turnover rate, a player needs to have good vision on the court and be able to make quick decisions. They also need to be able to make passes into tight spaces. These are all qualities that James possesses. He is one of the best passers in NBA history and his ability to find open teammates is unmatched.

Other players who have been near the top of the list in recent years include Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Jrue Holiday. All of these players are point guards, which is position that relies heavily on ball control and distributing the ball to teammates.

Stronger Ball Handling

Stronger ball handling can help prevent turnovers in a few ways. First, it can help players keep better control of the ball while they are dribbling, making it less likely that the ball will be knocked away or stolen. Second, it can help players make better decisions when they have the ball, so they are less likely to make a bad pass that results in a turnover. Finally, stronger ball handling can help players stay calm and composed when they are being pressured by opponents, so they are less likely to make a rushed decision that leads to a turnover.

More Awareness

The main objective of basketball is to score points by shooting the ball through the basket, but turnovers can be just as costly. A turnover is defined as a loss of possession of the ball by a team due to a mistake or poor decision, and it can often lead to easy points for the opposition.

According tostats.nba.com, the average NBA team turns the ball over about 14 times per game, but some teams are much worse than others. In fact, there have been some seasons where teams have averaged over 20 turnovers per game.

So who are the biggest culprits when it comes to turning the ball over? Let’s take a look at the 10 players who have led the NBA in turnovers per game since the 1979-80 season:

10. Shawn Kemp – 3.9 turnovers per game (1992-93)
9. Allen Iverson – 4.0 turnovers per game (2000-01)
8. Russell Westbrook – 4.1 turnovers per game (2016-17)
7. Stephon Marbury – 4.2 turnovers per game (2003-04)
6. Dwyane Wade – 4.3 turnovers per game (2008-09)
5. Kobe Bryant – 4.4 turnovers per game (2003-04)
4. Steve Francis – 4.5 turnovers per game (2000-01)
3. Allen Iverson – 4.6 turnovers per game (1999-00)
2. JaVale McGee – 5.0 turnovers per game (2012-13)
1 Dwight Howard – 5